Shoe lasting device



P. ARONOV ET AL SHOE LASTING DEVICE July 28, 1936.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1934 a mp 6W5 6 Unm ,1 n H 5 ;@W i w Mw m y 1936- I P. ARONOV ET AL 8, V

SHOE LASTING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1934 7 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Miill15117677135 2 mm? fironozz lUa/Lterjf 500%, 5 W W ill Patented July 28,1935 A-TENT OFFICE,

SHOE LAS'IING-DEVICFJ v Philip AlOiMW and Walter H. Scott, Chicago,Ill.,.

assignors to A. & S. S-hoe Engineering 00., Inc., Qhicagc, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application April 23, 1934, Serial No. 721,859

22 Claims.

The invention relates generally to shoe machinery and more particularlyto a device for lasting shoes.

In the manufacture of shoes, the upper must be stretched over a last anddrawn in around the sole to give the proper shape to the upper. In sometypes of shoes, this work is done after the welt has been sewed to theupper. One of the common methods of holding the upper tightly againstthe last is to place a wire around the shoe at the seam between theupper and the welt, and draw it tight against the seam. Since the instepof the shoe, at said seam, isnarrower than either the heel or weportions, the last-,- 7 ing must be done in two operations, one for thetoeportion and one for the heel portion, in order that the entireperiphery of the upper may be properly shaped. Whenthe wire is drawnaround one portion, the ends are inserted through lateral holes in thelast at the instep and are twisted together to hold the wire tightagainst the shoe. After the wire is once used it is scrapped.

The general object of, the present invention is to'provide a novellasting device capable. of: properly lasting the entire'shoe in oneoperation;

.It is also an object to provide a lasting device. which may be quicklyand easily applied and which may be used indefinitely without having toscrap any part thereof, as in the case of, the 1 wire in theabove-described prior practice.

Another object is to provide a lasting device which causes the upper tobe drawn'tightly against the last around the entire periphery thereofand which is self-locking so that it remains securely in placeuntilremoved. V Still another object resides in the provision of a machineused in connection with the lasting device, which is adapted tofacilitatethe appli-v cation of the device to the shoe and which isjconnection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine and lasting device embodyingthe features of the in vention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

-Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary'iront e-levation of the coactingparts of the lasting device and machine. r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary. plan view of the structure shown inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the preferred form of lasting device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-. 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 11 of Fig. 5.

.Fig.-.8 is a plan View of a modified form of lasting ldevice.

Fig. 9 is-a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings, the shoe is shown indotted-lines andcomprises an upper H having stitched to the lower edge thereof a weltID. To provide a form over which the upper may be shaped, alast I3 ofthe usual type is provided. The shape of the last is that of theinterior of the finished shoe, and the sides of the last are thereforerounded inwardlyat the sole. The upper, being made ofqrelatively flatpieces of material, must be drawn in at the sole to fit over the roundedportions of the last. The upper must also be maintained in suchcondition until it is permanently set. In usual practice, the upper, ifmade of leather, is moistened before such shaping and is allowed to dryin its shaped condition so that the shape will be per-. manentlyretained. The sole may also be attached before the'leather is dry inorder to assist in, maintaining the proper. shape.

A lasting deviceembodying the-present invention is adapted to draw theupper tightly onto the last to fit the rounded portions thereof, and tomaintain theupper in such condition until permanently set. The device issuch that the entire periphery of the upper islastedorshaped in oneoperation. The device is constructed of parts which fit against theseamjoining the welt and'the upper, and which contract about said 40 seam todraw the upper inwardly. Broadly, the lasting device comprises aflexible element adapted to be drawn tightly around one endof the shoe,and a member adapted to fit around the other end. of the shoe. On theends of the fiexible element are 'means which are shaped to cooperatewith said member in such a manner that, when the flexible element isdrawn tightly against the shoe, the end portions thereof are forcedagainst the sides of the shoe, and the parts are locked inplace In thepreferred embodiment shown-in Figs.

5, 6 and '7, the flexible element comprises a wire l4 made of springvsteel or the like so that, it

may be drawninto the shape of the shoe with: I

55 I "To draw the strips re'arwardly, a pair of laterally spaced'levers23, pi voted intermediate their out becoming permanently'bent. The wireis preferably placed around the toe portion of'the I securely attached,as by welding. The, two strips l are positionededgewise toward the shoeand shoe and, is positioned in the groove formed .by the seam joiningthe upperand the welt, as shown in Fig. '6. The wire is of sufficientlength to extend rearwardly to the instep of the shoe, and

on each end 'of' the wire, a strip of ,metal I5 is extend rearwardly ofthe shoe so that the wire may be drawn against the shoe.

' be drawn in around the last.

To enable'the parts to be properly positioned relative to the shoe, theplate I6 and. the strips I5 are constructed to cooperate with: eachothen to force the wire against theshoe and to lock 'the'parts inplace.' To this end, the side edges of the. plate l6 are; reversely bentas at I! to provide grooves receiving the strips l5 arid'holdlngthemedgewise relative to the shoe. The plate and strips may thusslide'relative to each other .-as the plate is moved forwardly andthestrips are pulled 'rearwardly' to draw the wire tight.. At the instep ofthe shoe which isconsiderably narrower thanthe toe, it is desirable toforce the wire laterally inward transversely. to the. line. of V tensionthereon when the strips are pulled rear- Wardly; For this purpose, thestrips are provided with cam surfaces |8 on their outer. edgesadjacenttheir forward ends. These cam surfaces flare outwardly and bearagainst the folded edges ll of the plate. Thus, on relative movementbetween the strips and the plate, thecam surfaces a ,,free to assist indrawing the'upper around the last as the device is;being tightened. Themal8'force the forward ends of the strips inwardly andthe wire is drawnin at theinstep of the shoe." 'I'hecam surfaces also have'awedge actionagainst the plate which friction ally locks, the

parts in place.

To facilitate the application of the device to the shoe, a machine isprovided which is prefer ably foot-operated so that the workers handsare chine preferably comprises a bench 20 supporting V a post21*provided with-an upwardly extending pin 22 upon which the'last 13- isdetachably 'inounted with the sole upward and the toe point- .in'g awayfrom the position of the worker;

The machine is constructed todraw the strips 7 [Son the ends of the wirerearwardly andwhen the wire ,is taut, to, force, the plate I6 forwardly.

ends, are provided. The levers, in order tobe readilyattached tothestrips, have headed pins 24- at' their upper ends, the pinsbeinginserted infk'ey-hole'l slots '25 in the' rear ends of the strips; Tothe lower ends of the levers 23 is fixed pulley 21.

attached a chain 26 or the like passing over a h The other end ofthe'chain is attached to a pedal 28 pivotally supported by a bracket 29secured to the floor under the bench.

Aj Whenthe pedal is depressed the, levers 2 3 pull the strips l5rearwardly, causing the wire 14 to] i biejdrawn tight around'the shoe aT force the plate IB in, place,-a'slid e 30is mounted inguides 3|01117116 benchf The outer end ofthe slide has; anfupstanding 'portion'32extendingrearwardly of the shoe and an abutment 33 is mounted thereonwhichis adapted, to abut against the rear edge of the plate 16 to deviceshown in Figs. 5, e and 7-,, the shoewit l i; th

force it into place. The rear edge of the plate is preferably bent uponitself as at 39, to strengthen I it. After the plate I6 is slid onto thestrips l5,

' the abutment 33 is moved vertically from an outof-the-way position onthe upstanding portion 5 32 of the slide to abut against the rear edgeof r the plate I6; I For convenience in, moving the abutment 33, itis.vprovidedwith av handle. In, moving the plate l6 into place, the groovesformed f by the'bent over portions I1 are of sufficient width into placeafter the strips are attached to the '*pins 24.

ItisPreferableto move the plate I6 intoholding engagement with the shoeafter the wire has been drawn tight. It is also preferable to employ thesame means. for doing this as-for moving the levers. 2,3. 'Forthis'reason, a spring'35 is positioned withinthe guides 3| to resistmovement of the slide 30,, and'the'levers 23 are pivotally supported by.a'pin .36=extending= through. the upistanding portion 32 of the slide.By this arrange-- ment, pressure on the pedal 28. firstcau'sesthe leversto tighten'the wire, thefspring resisting-' movement of -the'slide. Whenthe wire becomes tight,.further pressure on the pedal moves the slideforwardly against the resistance of: the

spring 35 and forces the plate l6 into place, the:- levers 23 swingingsufficiently, as the pivot pin 33.

shifts; to keep the wire-tight. To' provide for adjustment of theresistance offered-bythe spring 8 and 9 is constructed toxact uponthefshoe in a similar manner to the device shown iii Figs. 5,6 and 7.It, however, differs in the manner-in whichthe strips on the ends ofthe. wire, andthe plate are moved'relative to each other. In this form,the strips, indicated at so, and the p i di d at a e p v d thlat ra l ris-f 501) tering. slots, 52 One. edge of eachf'slot, in the plate 51 istoothed as at 53. and, the opposite edges: the slots in the stripsaregtootheda at, 5I4 j,"1 ,o, cooperate with theseteeth, keys 55,,correspo ndj-,, ingly toothed may be inserted in. thefslots toi meshwith'the teeth on both the plate andthe strips, and on rotation. of thekeys, the parts, of, the; device are drawn' into positiorn, Thus the,device may be. tightened manually. If, however,, it-isdesired to usethis ,form'of the device on thev machine shown in Figs; 1 to 4,thestrips '5' are; provided; with kevrholeslots 5 6 to fit over thegpins 24 on the levers 23., r l

In. the operation of lasting a last therein isplaced onthe post 21;wire; i4 is then placed around the toe of the shoeinthe groove formedbythe seam joining thejwelt and the upper, and the endsofithe strips:lfifialle' drawn rearwardly and attached to the pinsflom" the levers 23,By depressing'the pedal'f28rpart way, the wire is drawn tight aroundthetoe' 'of' the shoe. The plate I6 is then slid onto the strips, thegrooves formed'by the bent-over por- 2,048,721 tions I1 being wideenough to' permit-the heads of the pins 24 to pass through the groove.When the plate is pushed forwardly far'enough so that the abutment 33may be moved up into engage ment therewith, the pedal 28 is depressed asfar levers 23 swing still farther to keep the wire tight.

As the plate l6 moves forwardly, the cam surfaces l8 on the strips causethe ends of the wire to be drawn inwardly against the instep of the shoeto shape the upper'at that point. The cam surfaces l8 also act as awedge in the grooves formed by the bent-over portions ll of the plate,when the ends of the wire are forced into the in'step. The strips andplate 'are thereby frictionally locked together to hold the parts inplace on the shoe. During such movement of the parts the workers handsare free to drawthe leather of the'upper over the last'so that it maybe' clamped in the proper position by the lasting -device; 1

On releasing the pedal 28, thelspring 38 draws it upwardly and permitsrelease'of thepressure on the levers 23. The shoe, togetherwith the lastand the lasting device, may then be removed from the post and the stripsdetached from the'pins 24. When the shoe has been held long enough topermit the upper to retain the shape'permanently,

The device is thus ready for 11581011 theuse of'the machine by insertingkeys in the slots 52 to mesh with the teeth 53 and 54 and' rotating thekeys. Such rotation'shifts the strips 50 longitudinally of the plate -5|until the two' are 'wedged t0gether,"thus frictionally "locking theparts together.

' From "the above description, it will be apparent that we haveprovideda lasting device capable of lasting the entire periphery of a.shoe in one'operation. The lasting device may be easily applied tothe-shoe by the machinedisclosed herein, and

the machine may be operatedby the foot so that indefinitelyheld in shapeafterbeing removed fromthe'fm'achine After the device is removed fromthe shoe, it is'ready for useagain.

We claim as our invention:

1. A lasting device of the character described cemprising, incombination, a flexible ;member" adapted to fit around the toe of theshoe, a pair of strips attached to and extending rearwardly from therespective ends of said'flexible member and adapted to be drawnrearwardly to tighten the flexible member around the toe-and a heelplate shaped to fit snugly aroundthe heel of'theshoe, said strips andsaid platehaving-cooperatingportions shaped to hold the ends of the flexible member tightly against the shoe and to frictionally hold the stripsand plate against rela tive longitudinal movement.

'2. Asho'e lasting. device comprising, incombination, a flexible memberadapted to fit around the toe of the shoe, a U-shaped m mber adapted tofitaround the heel, and means on the respective ends of said flexiblemember for'drawing the latter tightly around the toe, said U-shapedmember and said means being shaped to cooperatively hold the ends of theflexible member tightly against the shoe and to frictionally-lqck eachother inpla'cer v r 3. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combi-"nation, a, flexible member adapted to be' drawn tightly around one endof the shoe, a rigid member adapted to fit'aroun'd the other end of' theshoe, and means on the ends of said flexible'mem ber cooperating withsaid rigid member tohold said members tightly against the shoe and tolock them in place.

4. A shoe lasting and holding device adapted to be retained on the shoeuntil the sole is laid comprising, in combination, a flexible member apd to be longitudinally drawn tight around one end 'o'f'the shoe, andmeans for engaging the ends of 'the flexible member and constructed tolock said flexible member against longitudinal movementand to force saidflexible member laterally against the shoe.

'5. A shoe lasting device portable with the shoe through subsequentoperations comprising, in combination, a flexible member adapted to bedrawn tight around one end of. the shoe, a pair of strips secured to therespective ends of said flexible member, and means'coo-perating withsaid strips to lock them in placeand to force the ends of 'the flexiblemember against the shoe.

6th shoe lasting device comprising, in combie nation, a wire adapted tobe drawn around the toe of the shoe, a pair of strips secured to therespective ends of said wire, and a dampen: gaging said strips andadapted to cam the strips laterally against the shoe as the strips aredrawn rearwardly and to frictionally hold the strips against movement. m

"7. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a. flexible memberadapted tobe drawn tight around the toe portion of the shoe andextending rearwardly to the instep, a. rigid member adapted to fitaround the heel portion of the shoe, and end elements secured totherespective ends of said flexible member and fashioned to" engagesaidrigid member and lock the parts in' place and to force the-ends of.the flexible member in wardly at the instep by the engagement with therigid member.

'8. Aj' shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a wire adaptedto be drawn tight around the toe portion of the'shoe, a U-shaped memberadapted to fit around the heel portion of'the shoe, and a pair of stripssecured to the respec tive ends of the wire and adapted to frictionallyengage with the 'U-shaped member to lock' the parts together. V Y

9; A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, 'a wire adapted tobe drawn tight around the toe portion of the sho'e, a pair of strips secured to the respective ends of, said wire with the inner edges of saidstrips in alinement with the wire-and a U-shaped member adapted to flt,around'the heel portion of the shoe and shaped to frictionally engageand hold said strips 115' place, said strips being shaped to be forcedihwardly at the instep of. the shoe when in engagement with the U-shapedmember.

10. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination,a wire adapted tobe drawntight around the toe portion of the shoe, a pair of'stripsextend n re wa yi r m h mesp c e hqs i said wire and having. theinnergedges in anneament with the wire," and a plate-,hgvin aslot,

shaped to around the heel portion eithe -shoe liziandhafihgits side:edgesbent. to; slidably;re ceive' 'said strips and to frictionallyloclgtherewith-when forced into 'place on' thefshoer,

n. A shoe lasting device comprising,

binati'on; a wire adapted to be drawn tight around s ;the toe; portionof the shoe and to extend to the.

inste of: the shoe; a pair of strips rigidly securedto the respectiveendsof the wirewith the a wire andthe inneraedges of the strip in line;and:

V 'a plate having aslotshaped to flt around the :heel port-ion oftheshoathesideedges of. plate being bentreversely to form longitudinalgrooves receiving the outer edges ofsaid strips,;the outer edges of..said stripsfat the forwardend thereof bein'gshaped .to provideoutwardly flaring cam OR-Jsurfaces adapted when engaged with said plateto force the; tor ward ends: of. said strips inwardly I and thereby:draw, the wiretightly against the. f insteplof the shoe.- Q 7 i 12; Ashoe lasting device' comprising, in cornbination, a wirefladapted to.be. drawn tight around't-he'toe portion of the shoe and to'extend to,-;the: instep of the shoe a pairof strips rigidly j "secured to therespective ends of the wire with the wiige and inneredges of. the stripsalined, and 9 aQU -shaped plate adapted to fit around the heel portionof the shoe and having its outer side f ol qied upon itself t0 ;pr0videslots receiving said strips and hold them edgewiseagainst the shge saidstrips extending rearwardly beyond azi edge; fsaid plate. to permit thestrips.

' "to be drawn rearwardly while the plate isforcedforwardly, V

'1 3.'-A shoe. lasting device comprising, in com: bination, aflexiblemember adapted to be drawn lflitightaronndthe toe portion; of the shoe,a pair f f of strips secured to the respective ends ofsaid' l flexiblemember, a plate shaped to fit around the heel portion of .the shoe andto hold the strips flatly against. the faoeQof the-'plate, said plate. i-having longitudinally extending slots registering with correspondingslots in the strips, one edge 7 ofieach slot-in the plate and theopposite edges of theslot in. each strip being provided with teeth, anda toothed key fitting in said slots to mesh w with thejteeth thereof andadapted by rotation Ito; .draw.the-flexible member and the plate tight 7against the shoe.

14. A'm'achine for lasting shoes comprisi ngg' in '1 combination aworksupport adapted to support a last lto receive the. shoe, a flexiblemember adapted to be drawn tight around the toe por- 'tion of theshoe,a'pair ofstrips attached to the respective; ends of the. flexible memberandextending rearwardly of the shoe, -a U-shaped plate "*adaptedto fitaround the heel portion oi the shoe and shapedto icrce said stripsagainst the sides of {said shoe, lever means shaped to engagesaid.strips and to draw them rearwardlyya slidable' supportfor said levermeans adapted to engage. the rear edge of said plate to forceit'forwardly,

- and means tor. swinging; said levermeans. and. 1fo-r. "forcing saidsupport forwardly. when thei lever means have drawn the flexible. membertight against the shoe. f 1 V 15. A machine for lastingshoes'coi'nprising, in

combination ga work support adapted to. support 7 a "last to receive theshoe, a flexible member adapted tobe drawn tight around-- the toeportion of the shoe, a pair of strips attached to the reing rearwardloperating with said elements and; said; flex ble 'member'to force thelatter. laterally against. .th

sides of theshoe. and to lock.thejpartsinplw V 18. A lasting device ofthe character:

. comprising; combination; a flexible-member v the shoe mass-.4

speetive. s e ts the, flexiblemember and; extend-..- H

qof theshoe; a U -shaped plate adapted t m. w nd. th zh s me r ar shoeand shaped tociorce.-said;;strips:againstthe sides of said shoe, apairot le'v ers shaped at their v upper ends for: engagementwlthjhe endsoithe; respective; strips. and draw them 7 rearwardly, a:

' intermediatetheir ends and; adapted to engage the reaned e-of saidplate to force, it. rorwardly -lmi r a sp ng re s in e wad-mevementjetsam-21ers.

ment, andapedalsfer swinging saidlevers tei draw 7 the flexible'membertight against theshoe end-.1 then to force the slidable element:forwardly;

. 61: A; m chine orl ine shoes co p i in 1563 combination, abench adahfid: t S pp t: a 9 o r ce ve'th e isa w re adapted o rawn; tight aroundthe toesoitheshoe a pair of; strips attached-f tOezthG' respective ends:ot the wire t exA-i tend .rearwardlythereirom along the respective 20613ides o t hoe,- s id strips;beinsj' pe tured at their r r end-8;, a: u-sp dzp ste' n ed: to fitmund the. heel: p r ion: 0t:- the. h et. p r slidbly mo nted: on; said bench nd adapted. to

engage the rear edge'of said plate to forcethe 251":

plate-forwardly against the; shoega spring-"resistingforwardg'movementiof: said sumaort, a pal-not, 1' V lever pi oed:intermediate their on; sa d.- s pp rt: and; having: ninls at he r:upp .end o engage ne apertures in saidstripsand a.- pedal adapted toflt;around the toe. ofthe. means; attached to said flexible, memberandadapted, to: f be drawn reanwardly' hten thefllex member. around 1thetoe,; and ajheel pate eonstri ctedv 159" means and-.;.said plate o prating to ho ld the; flexible member. and the. heel plate in positionort;

l 9. A machine for setting-a. shoe lasting devicecomprisingaflexiblemember adapted tobe; drawn tight, around. oneend: of the shoe,and means adapted to iitaroundzthe other-end oifthe. shoe andconstructed to cooperatefi'withfsaid flxible member .to. lock saidnieans and said flexible member in. place, said machine comprising 'incombination, a 'work'support, adapted to flxedlyi support alast or theshoe; a slidable element.

adapted t o engage said rneanS to forceit -against the shoe,lever-meanspivotally supported on saiid, slidable element and adapted todraw said flex ible memberin a direction opposite to the;-move-.-

mentl of said' slidable' element, and, meansf0!" swinging saidv levermeans to draw" saidflexible. I

member tight and" move said-slidableelement;

in the opposite. direction to force said means;

against the shoe.' 7

.20. A machine for setting a shoe: last-ink device comprising. aflexible member adapted to b1ei7 drawn tight around the toe of the shoe,and a heel plate adapted to fit around the heel of the shoe, said heelplate and said flexible member being adapted to be held firmly in placeon the shoe, said machine comprising, in combination, a fixed worksupport adapted to support a last for the shoe, a slidable elementhaving a portion movable into contact with said heel plate to force itinto position on the shoe, lever means engageable with said flexiblemember and adapted to draw said flexible member tight around the toe ofthe shoe, and a pedal for swinging said lever means, said lever meansbeing pivotally supported on said slidable element whereby said flexiblemember is drawn tight and said heel plate is forced against the shoe bya single movement of said pedal.

21. A machine for setting a shoe lasting device comprising a flexiblemember adapted to be drawn tight around one end of the shoe, and a plateadapted to fit around the other end of the shoe and cooperating withsaid flexible member to hold each other in place on the shoe, saidmachine comprising, in combination, a work support adapted to support alast for the shoe, an element adapted to abut against said plate toforce it into position on the shoe by relative movement between saidshoe and said element, means for causing said flexible member to bedrawn tight around the shoe by a relative movement between the shoe andsaid means, and a pedal for efiecting said relative movements.

22. A lasting device portable with the shoe through subsequentoperations comprising, in combination, a flexible member adapted to fitaround the toe of a shoe, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around theheel of the shoe, and. means movable longitudinally of the shoe fordrawing said flexible member tight around the toe of the shoe and forforcing said U-shaped plate tight against the heel and simultaneouslyforcing said flexible member laterally against the sides of the shoe.

PHILIP ARONOV. WALTER I-I. SCOTT.

